CHRIS THOMSON

PETSCLUSIVE: City of Perth plans to convert a large chunk of Langley Park into a doggie exercise area have been dumped after local complaints.

A draft city dog ‘law’ seen by oneperth.com.au has scrapped previous plans to convert the area of park east of Bennett Street and bounded by Plain Street, Riverside Drive and Terrace Road.

All but one of 30 submissions received on the mooted canine aerobics zone objected to the plans.

The gripes cited a likely increase in hound excrement, conflict between pooches and park users, and a possible spike in attacks.

Paternalistic complainants feared dogs would run onto busy roads.

Others said dogs would conflict with Langley Park events or the ‘no dogs’ policies of some adjoining apartment blocks.

A similar plan to convert West Perth’s Totterdell Park into a gymnasium for dish lickers attracted two complaints. Nevertheless, council officers have recommended that proposal go ahead.

If Totterdell Park gets approved by the city’s councillors, it will become central Perth’s second dog exercise area after the existing Wellington Square one.

Under the draft plan, dogs would not be banned from Langley Park. They just wouldn’t get a designated play area there.

The places canines would be prohibited are inside public buildings, shops and business premises (guide dogs excluded). The kangaroo enclosure on Heirisson Island would also be off limits.